DILG serves dismissal order vs Camarines Norte governor

LEGAZPI CITY – Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado has stepped down from his post after the Department of the Interior and local Government (DILG) served the dismissal order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman.

DILG-Bicol director  Eloisa Pastor said they served the dismissal order signed by graft investigator Raphael Lorenzo Pangalangan at around 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

”(Tallado) was very calm as he received the dismissal order at his office,” Pastor told The STAR.

Vice Gov. Jonah Pimentel took over Tallado’s post while top provincial board member Michael Canlas was appointed vice governor.

The ombudsman also ordered the cancellation of Tallado’s eligibility, forfeiture of his retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and banned him from taking the civil service examination.

Tallado’s dismissal stemmed from his failure to serve his suspension for one year for defying a Civil Service Commission ruling to reinstate provincial veterinarian Edgardo Gonzales, whom he appointed public information officer in 2016.

Tallado was found guilty of grave abuse of authority. He filed a petition before the Court of Appeals to stop the implementation of the ombudsman ruling.

Tallado was thrice suspended by the ombudsman for various offenses, including “disgraceful and immoral conduct,” after nude photos and a sex video of him and his alleged mistress went viral on social media. – With Michelle Zoleta